Re-Evaluating Our Understanding of Scripture: The Resurrection Season and the Unveiling of Christ
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As we reflect on the seasons of the resurrection of Jesus Christ—Passover, the Counting of the Omer, and Pentecost—it's important to pause and ask ourselves: What has changed in our understanding of God's Word? Has our walk with God evolved? Where is the fruit of that change, and how are we manifesting the essence of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
The Fruit of the Holy Spirit: Where Is It?
As believers in Jesus Christ, we are called to embody the very essence of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). But when we look around at the world today, can we honestly say that the body of Christ is radiating these qualities?
Too often, we see division, anger, and frustration among believers, rather than the peace that surpasses all understanding. The world should look upon the Church and see the unmistakable evidence of God’s presence in our lives—not as a collection of different Christian denominations, but as one unified body, radiating the presence of Christ wherever we go.
Revisiting What We've Learned: A Fresh Perspective
One of the most transformative things we can do as believers is to revisit what we've been taught, especially about the Scriptures that have become so familiar to us. As the prophet Isaiah reminds us, God’s ways are always new:
“They are new every morning: great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:23).
We need to ask ourselves: Are we truly open to God showing us something new every day, or are we stuck in old paradigms and interpretations? Scripture is living and active, always revealing deeper truths and fresh insights when we seek God with a humble heart.
The Beginning and the End: Understanding God’s Eternal Plan
To begin, let's take a moment to think about the Bible as a whole. Like any good story, the beginning and the end should be connected. In most human writing, we’d never want to read a book that starts with doom and gloom, but often that's how we approach the Bible—especially when we think about the Book of Revelation.
In the Book of Revelation, we see a vision of Jesus Christ unveiled—the true revelation of Christ. But before we jump to the end, we must understand that the end was declared before the beginning. This profound concept is found in Isaiah 46:10:
“I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times, the things that are not yet done.”
This passage reveals something significant: God, in His omniscience, declared the end of time before creation even began. So, what if we read Revelation first and then worked our way backward to Genesis? Would this give us a better understanding of God’s eternal plan?
Revelation: An Unveiling of Christ's Glory
In Revelation 1:1, we read, “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His bondservants…” The word revelation literally means to "take the cover off," unveiling the glory of Christ and what is to come when His glory is fully revealed.
This isn't just a book about future events; it’s a revelation of Jesus Christ Himself—who He is, what He has accomplished, and what that means for our lives as His followers today.
Genesis: The Beginning of God’s Creation and a Deeper Understanding
Now, let's go back to the very first verse of the Bible, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”(Genesis 1:1).
What if we read this verse differently? What if “In the beginning” referred not just to the start of time, but to the first-fruits—the initial manifestation of God's will in the earth? Paul tells us that Christ is the "first-fruit" of many brethren (Romans 8:29). What if this is the key to understanding Genesis?
The word Elohim (God) in Genesis 1:1 is plural, suggesting a richness and fullness beyond just a singular entity. The word Elohim encompasses the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—Christ, the Head and the Church, the Bride.
When we interpret Genesis 1:1 through the lens of the end (Revelation), we see that the creation of the heavens and the earth was always meant to point to Christ—the Bride and the Bridegroom. The heavens, plural, represent not just a physical realm, but the expanse of God’s glory, manifesting in Christ and through His Church.
The Creation of Light: The Anointing of the Spirit
As we move into Genesis 1:2-3, we encounter the famous phrase, “And the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light.’”
What does it mean that God said, “Let there be light”? This isn’t just about physical light—it’s the light of Christcoming into the world. As the Spirit of God moves over the “waters,” we must understand that this speaks to the creative potential in all of us as believers. The "waters" are symbolic of our identity, our potential, and the anointing that moves over us to bring forth life, light, and love.
The light is the revelation of Christ in us. Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). When God spoke, He was declaring that the light—the truth of who we are in Christ—would break through the darkness of this world.
Embracing Our True Identity in Christ
What we need to realize is that the light we read about in Genesis is not just something that existed at the dawn of creation, but a light that is still alive in us today. This is the same light that John describes in Revelation as the unveiling of Christ's glory, which is already in us by virtue of the Holy Spirit’s presence.
As James 1:17 reminds us, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” We are children of the Father of Lights, and in us, that same light is shining.
The New Creation: A Call to Re-Evaluate
It’s time to re-evaluate how we approach Scripture. Have we been missing the deeper layers of meaning in God's Word? Have we reduced the creation story to mere physical events without understanding the spiritual realities they represent?
We are being called to awaken to our true identity in Christ, to realize that the light of God is already in us, and to walk in that light every day. The end was declared before the beginning, and we are part of God’s eternal plan—a plan that is still unfolding today.
A New Awakening
As you re-read Genesis, Revelation, and all the Scriptures in between, I encourage you to ask God for a fresh revelationof His Word. Allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate the truths that will lead you to a deeper understanding of who you are in Christ and the calling you have as part of His body. Don’t settle for familiar teachings; dig deeper and find the rich, transformational truths God is unveiling to you now.
Are you ready to embrace your true identity in Christ and walk in the fullness of His glory? If you want to dive deeper into these themes and explore the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in your life, check out my book Living in the Inheritance of God. Let's journey together as we uncover the depths of God’s love and purpose for our lives.